Package for article such as frankfurters

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes a package which includes a flexible bag having an open end. A relatively rigid collar is affixed to the bag adjacent the opening in the bag. The bag can be closed by turning of the collar to twist the region of the bag adjacent the opening. The collar is then retained in position with the end of the bag twisted shut.

United States Patent Inventors Jerome Gould Encino; Thomas W. Kellogg,Newport Beach, Calif. Appl. No. 811,280 Filed Mar. 24, 1969 PatentedJan. 19, 1971 Assignee Design Properties, Inc.

Los Angeles, Calif. a corporation of California PACKAGE FOR ARTICLE SUCHAS [50] Field of Search Primary ExaminerDavid M. BockenekAttorney-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt ABSTRACT: This disclosure describes apackage which in- FR F E Q F cludes a flexible bag having an open end. Arelatively rigid col- Clams 5 rawmg lar is affixed to the bag adjacentthe opening in the bag. The Y U.S. Cl 229/62, g n b cl sed by turning ofthe collar to twist the region of 150/3, 206/46, 99/174 the bag adjacentthe opening. The collar is then retained in Int. Cl .1 865d 33/16position with the end of the bag twisted shut.

by heat sealing.

;isnot only PA KAGE Fort ARTICLEsucii'As-rRANKruRrE s Numerous productsincluding food productsare packages at the manfuactui'er's plant'in thinplastic or cellophane packagesare typically closed adhesives orpackages. The

As the package'istightly sealed, it; necessary for the con- I surnertobreak the plastic or cellophane to'open the package. Typically, theproduct'within the package is notcompletely used by the consumerimmediately following opening of the 'packagefahdtherefore, itisnecessary for the consumer to store the unus'edportion of the: product"int the broken package. Storage inopenand unsealed "package s'isparticularly undesirable for food products orflother spoilable or easilycontaminable'productsi i Y I The present invention provides a simple.inexpensive package which is reusable for the life of theproductcontained The present; invention teaches that these desirableiresultscan be accomplished by providing a bag, having an opening therein andaffixing a relatively 'rigid collarto the bag adjacent therim of the'openingL The openingin the collar should be in registry with theopening in the bag. in use, the. ba'g'should not a be completely filledwith product; Rather, the product should terminate shortofithe-openihgin the bag,so'ithat a region of the bag projects beyond the end of theproduct. This region of the bag should be sufficiently flexible topermit twisting thereof. The collar is attached to this region ofthebag.

. To close the bag; the-user turnsthe collar relative tothe mainportionof the'bag, This twists the flexible region pf the bag into agenerallyhourglass contigu'ration'a'nd such twistingresultsinclosureofthe bag. 3

, The collar provides ayery tight'closure forthe "open end of the bag.Whenthe-collar is turned,the twisting'of thebagoccurs intermediate theproductfand-the outer end 'ofthef bag whichis attached to the collar.Thus, the open endbf theibag twisted: closed but is covered'bytwoda'y'ers ofthe bag The bag canbe retained inthe closed position inniany different ways. For example,- thecollarcan be bonded to the mainportion of the bag and the bond maybe of a chemical or mechanicalnature.Alternatively, thelcollar may be taped to the mainportion of the bagbyipres'sui'e'sensitive' adhesive tape or it maybe secured to the bag byfractal-able means.

ln a preferred form of the invention, however, the collar is therein.Thepacitage can be opened without destroying or breaking the walls ofthe "package and it-lcan bejeasily and tightly 'closed after the initialopening the'reof. -f"- sized'to fit over the bag and to be frictionallyretained thereby I The use of friction to. retain the collar inposition-is preferred because the bag can be easily opened merely byovercoming the force of friction and without the danger of fracturingthe thin walls of the bag.

In a preferred form of the invention, the entire bag is constructed ofsubstantially flexible material such as plastic or cellophane. In thisevent, the product within thebagserves to retain the walls thereofagainst substantial radialcollapse. Thus, the product within the bagcooperates with the collar to provide the necessary frictional force toretain the collar in position. Of course, the bag can be opened bymerely counter-- rotating the collar to untwist the flexible region ofthe bag.

The collar serves some additional important functions.

First, because the collar is preferably at least somewhat rigid,

it holds the open end of the bag fully open to facilitate insertion andremoval of the product.'Secondly,'after the bag is open, it serves asmanual means to peel back the open end of the bag for maximum access tothe product. r

The inve'ntiomboth as to its organization and method of operationtogether with further features and advantages thereof may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the'accompanying drawing in which:

F IG. 1 is an elevational view partially in section illustrating a 1FIG; 2 is a view'similar to FIG. after the collar has been given aninitial turn't'o commenceclosing of the bag;

FIG. is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. l'with the bag in I the fullycl'osed'position and with an end 1 fixed to the outer end of the collar;

closure member, af-

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. l' illustrating the'use of the collarin'peeling back-the openend producttcontained therein; and

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodimerit of theinvention with thepackage being illustrated ofj-the bag from "the in theclosed'position V I v Referring'to the drawings "and in-particulartoFlG'. l

thereof, reference numeral ll designates a package constructed inaccordance with thetca'chingsofthis invention.

Generally, the package -ll includes a flexible bag l3 and a relativelyrigid collar in the form'of a sleeve is affixed to'thc bag andsurrounding an outer portions of'the bag. In the embodiment illustrated,the bag/l3 conta'ins a product in the 2 f form of a plurality offrankfurters l7,'although it may be used to containmanydifferent' kindsof products.

The bagtl3 is preferably constructed of a film plastic such apolyethylene or other materials such as; cellophane. Seran wrap, etc.The material fromwhich the bag 13 is constructed is preferably flexibletothereby makethe entire bag 13 flexi ble, a though as explained morefully here inbelow, only a portion of the bag must be flexible. Althoughthe bag 13 may assume various configurations. in

the embodiment illustated the bagis elongated and has a generallycylindrical peripheral wall -l9and a generally circular end wall,The'bag 13 is preferably'integral and maybe constructed inaccordance-with any known methods. The

: H peripheral walll9 and the end wall 2l-retain the product 17 withinthe bag 13 as shown in FIG. 1}.

I The bag l3has an open eitd-23which is opposite theend wall 21. Asshown in FIG. 1; a region ZS'ofthe bag 13 projects axially beyond theouter end 27 of the product 17 and a por' tion 28. of the bagimmediately surrounds the product 17. An

annular section 29 of the bag 13 immediately surrounding the openend 23is attached to tin-annular outer section 31 of the collar byany suitablemeans such'as an adhesive or ahcat. seal. As shown in FIG. 1, thesections 29 and 3] have con siderably shorter axial lengths than'doestheregion of the Thersleeve l5 somewhat rigid and may be constructed of avariety of materials such as'cardboard or a plastic material. The sleevehas an inner surface 32'defining an openingio'r passage 32a whichextends completely through thesleevei'As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 15is sufficiently long to be attached at the outer section 31 thereof tothe outer section 29 of the bag 13 while an inner openend 23 of the bag13 while the section 29 thereof 1 remains firms firmly attached to thesection 31 of the sleeve 15.The region 25 except for the section 29 isthe part of the bag that is to be twisted, and therefore, it is onlythis part of the bag that must be sufficiently flexible to permittwisting thereof. In actual practice of the invention, however, in manyinstances, it will be most expedient to construct the entire bag 13 ofthe same material; Furthermore. many of the materials packageconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention andhaving a product therein with the package being illustrated in the openposition;

now in use for packaging products 'of this type employ thin flexiblematerials such as plastics. For these reasons, the bag 13 is preferablyentirely constructed of flexible material. To close the open end 23, theuser'grasps the sleeve 15 and turns the latter about its longitudinalaxis in either direction relative to the portion of the bag which isimmediately. confining the product 17. As the outer section 29 of thebag. 13 is af- 7 has an axial lengthwhich exceeds the axial length ofthe region '25. The sleeve l5 is preferably at least fixed to the outersection 31 of the sleeve 15, the section 29 turns with the sleeve. Theinner end of the region 25 is held against substantial turning movementand thus, the region 25 is twisted to form the generally hourglassconfiguration shown in FIG. 2. Turning of the sleeve 15 continues untilthe region 25 is tightly twisted to completely close the open end 23ofthe bag 13 as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, 25 has been converted into an inner end wall 35covering the outer end 27 of the product 17, a tight twist portion 37located centrally of the end wall 35, and an outer end wall 39. Thus,the region 25 has been converted into a double layer closure for theopen end 23 of the bag 13. Although the end walls 35 and 37 are slightlyaxially spaced in FIG. 3, they may be in tight engagement with eachother by merely sliding of the sleeve 15 axially inwardly to therebymove the end wall 39 into engagement with the end wall 15. If desired,the end 23 of the bag may be further sealed by an end closure member 41which may be suitably secured, as by an adhesive or heat seal, to theouter end of the sleeve 15.

The sleeve 15 may be retained in the position shown in FIGv 3 bysecuring of the sleeve to the bag at some region thereof other than theregion 25. Such securing may take the form of pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape, fracturable means or a chemical or mechanical bond. Inthe embodiment illustrated, however, the sleeve 15 is retained in theclosed position of FIG. 3 by the force of friction between the innersurface 32 thereof and the portion 28 of the a bag 13'. Because the bag13 is entirely flexible, the product 17 holds the bag against radialinward collapse. Thus, the product 17 cooperates with the bag 13 toprovide the necessary frictional contact between the sleeve 15 of thebag 13. Of course, the force of friction between the bag 13 and thesleeve 15 may be supplemented, if desired, by any other suitablesecuring means.

The package 11 may be purchased by the consumer in the form shown inFIG. 3. When it is desired to utilize some of the product 17, theconsumer counterrotates the sleeve 15 relative to the portion 28 of thebag 13 to untwist the region 25. The end closure member 41, if one hasbeen provided, can then be forcibly removed from the outer end of thesleeve 15 to provide access through the open end 23 of the product 17.The sleeve 15 can then be moved axially inwardly as shown in FIG. 4 topeel back the bag 13 to expose the product 17.

Assuming that less than the full quantity of the product 17 is utilizedinitially the bag 13 can be closed by first moving the sleeve 15 axiallyoutwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1 and then rotating the sleeve15 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As the bag 13 is flexible and some of theproduct 17 has been removed, the circumference thereof will now beinsufficient to cause tight frictional engagement between the sleeve 15and the bag 13. However, as the flexible region 25 of the bag 13 hasvery little tendency to recover, i.e. it is nonresilient,counterrotation of the sleeve 15 can be prevented by merely laying thepackage 11 on its side so that it rests upon the peripheral wall 19 andthe sleeve 15. Fn'ctional engagement between the sleeve 15 and itssupporting surface will then be sufficient to prevent inadvertentopening of the bag 13.

FIG. illustrates a package Ila which is identical to the package 11except that the collar is provided in the form of an axially short,relatively rigid ring 43 in lieu of the sleeve 15. Thus, the package 110includes a bag 13a and the ring 43 with the latter being attached to theopen end of the bag in the manner described in connection with FIG. 1.In the closed position, the ring 43 snugly embraces the bag 13a adjacentthe outer end 27a of the product 17a contained within the bag. About theonly functional difference between the packages 11a and 11 is that withthe former it is necessary to move the ring 43 axially slightlyfollowing the turning of the bag 13a in order to move the ring to theposition shown in FIG. 5 in which it circumscribes the bag 13a adjacentthe outer end 27a of the product l7a.

Although the sleeve and the ring 43 are both annular in cross sectionand generally circular in plan, it should be understood that theconcepts of this invention are restricted to this use ofthisconfiguration. Similarly, the bag 13 need not he ofthe elongatedcylindrical l'orm shown.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, a many changes. modifications and substitutions may be madeby one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

. In a package for a product, the combination of:

bag having wall means for confining'the product and at least one openend, the region of the bag adjacent said open end being sufficientlyflexible to permit twisting thereof, said open end being of sufficientsize to permit the product to pass therethrough; said bag receiving theproduct in a snug fit to provide a support by the product for the bagagainst inward collapse and to cause a segment of the bag to assume apredetermined cross-sectional configuration;

a collar having an opening of sufficient size to permit the product topass therethrough, said collar being affixed to said region of the bagadjacent said open end;

said bag having sufficient length to extend beyond the product in thebag, through the region of the bag adjacent the open end of the bag, asufficient distance to allow closure of'thc open eiid of the bag bytwisting of said region of the bag, said region of the bag adjacent theopen end being twistable by turning of said collar relative to theproduct in the bag; and

the collar having an opening corresponding to the opening in the bagwith the product in the bag and disposed in force fit to the-bag toprovide a frictional relationship between the bag and the collar in thetwisted position of the bag and with the product in the bag.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes meansreleasable without fracturing of said wall means to allow turning of asaid collar to untwist said region of the bag adjacent said opening in adirection to open said open end of the bag.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening in saidcollar is sized to frictionally engage and circumscribe a section of thebag whereby friction between the bag and the collar retains the collarin said position for closing the bag and whereby additional means areprovided on the bag, with the product in the bag, for retaining the bagin twisted position.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes meansfor securing the collar to a substantially untwisted section of the bag.

5. A combination as defined in claim I wherein said collar is at leastsomewhat rigid.

6. In a package for a product, the combination of:

a relatively flexible bag having wall means to confine the product andan opening at one end of said wall means through which the product canpass in a snug fit to provide a support for the bag against inwardcollapse and to cause a segment of the bag to assume a predeterminedcross-sectional configuration;

a collar affixed to the wall means at an outer section of the wall meansadjacent the opening therein, said collar having an opening therein ingeneral registry with the opening in said wall means, said collarfilling over at least a portion of the bag and having force fit with thebag with the product in the bag, said opening in said collar being ofsufficient size to permit passage of the product therethrough;

said bag being of sufficient length so that when the product is in thebag a particular region of said wall means of said bag lies intermediatethe end of the product and said affixation of said collar to said wallmeans, said particular region of said wall means having sufficientlength to close the opening in the wall means by twisting of saidparticular region of said wall means, said particular region of saidwall means being twistable by turning said collar, the twisting of saidparticular region by the turning of said collar causing said opening tobe of said wall means; and

the collar being provided with an opening corresponding to the openingin the bag, with the product in the bag. to retain the product in thebag by, the force of friction when the bag has been twisted. Y 7. Acombination as defined in claim 6' wherein said collar is in the form ofa ring, said ring being movable generally axially closed by oppositeends following the turning thereof to a position in which itcircumscribes the bag adjacent one end of the product.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said collar is in theform of a sleeve, one end portion of said sleeve being affixed to saidwall means at the outer section of the wall means and the other endportion of said sleeve circumscribing a portion of said bag whichreceives the product therein.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 including an end closure forclosing said one end portion of said sleeve.

10. In a package for a product, the combination of: wall means defininga relatively flexible bag having an opening therein for receiving theproduct; said product providing support for the bag against inwardcollapse and causing a segment of the bag to assume a predeterminedcross-sectional configuration;

said product terminating short of the opening in the bag so that aregion of the bag projects beyond the end of the product with asufficient length to provide for a twisting of this region to a closedposition;

a collar attached to said region of the flexible bag adjacent theopening in the bag. said collar having an opening therein in generalregistry with the opening in said bag; and

said collar being turnable to twist said region of the bag to close saidopening in said bag with at least a double layer of the wall means, saidcollar fitting over at least a section of said bag and being retainablethereby, said collar having a force fit on the bag, with the product inthe bag, to retain the region of the bag in the twisted condition byfriction.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said collar extendsalong the bag at the positions wherethe product is

1. In a package for a product, the combination of: a bag having wallmeans for confining the product and at least one open end, the region ofthe bag adjacent said open end being sufficiently flexible to permittwisting thereof, said open end being of sufficient size to permit theproduct to pass therethrough; said bag receiving the product in a snugfit to provide a support by the product for the bag against inwardcollapse and to cause a segment of the bag to assume a predeterminedcross-sectional configuration; a collar having an opening of sufficientsize to permit the product to pass therethrough, said collar beingaffixed to said region of the bag adjacent said open end; said baghaving sufficient length to extend beyond the product in the bag,through the region of the bag adjacent the open end of the bag, asufficient distance to allow closure of the open end of the bag bytwisting of said region of the bag, said region of the bag adjacent theopen end being twistable by turning of said collar relative to theproduct in the bag; and the collar having an opening corresponding tothe opening in the bag with the product in the bag and disposed in forcefit to the bag to provide a frictional relationship between the bag andthe collar in the twisted position of the bag and with the product inthe bag.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said meansincludes means releasable without fracturing of said wall means to allowturning of a said collar to untwist said region of the bag adjacent saidopening in a direction to open said open end of the bag.
 3. Acombination as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening in said collar issized to frictionally engage and circumscribe a section of the bagwhereby friction between the bag and the collar retains the collar insaid position for closing the bag and whereby additional meAns areprovided on the bag, with the product in the bag, for retaining the bagin twisted position.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans includes means for securing the collar to a substantiallyuntwisted section of the bag.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1wherein said collar is at least somewhat rigid.
 6. In a package for aproduct, the combination of: a relatively flexible bag having wall meansto confine the product and an opening at one end of said wall meansthrough which the product can pass in a snug fit to provide a supportfor the bag against inward collapse and to cause a segment of the bag toassume a predetermined cross-sectional configuration; a collar affixedto the wall means at an outer section of the wall means adjacent theopening therein, said collar having an opening therein in generalregistry with the opening in said wall means, said collar filling overat least a portion of the bag and having force fit with the bag with theproduct in the bag, said opening in said collar being of sufficient sizeto permit passage of the product therethrough; said bag being ofsufficient length so that when the product is in the bag a particularregion of said wall means of said bag lies intermediate the end of theproduct and said affixation of said collar to said wall means, saidparticular region of said wall means having sufficient length to closethe opening in the wall means by twisting of said particular region ofsaid wall means, said particular region of said wall means beingtwistable by turning said collar, the twisting of said particular regionby the turning of said collar causing said opening to be closed byopposite ends of said wall means; and the collar being provided with anopening corresponding to the opening in the bag, with the product in thebag, to retain the product in the bag by the force of friction when thebag has been twisted.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid collar is in the form of a ring, said ring being movable generallyaxially following the turning thereof to a position in which itcircumscribes the bag adjacent one end of the product.
 8. A combinationas defined in claim 6 wherein said collar is in the form of a sleeve,one end portion of said sleeve being affixed to said wall means at theouter section of the wall means and the other end portion of said sleevecircumscribing a portion of said bag which receives the product therein.9. A combination as defined in claim 8 including an end closure forclosing said one end portion of said sleeve.
 10. In a package for aproduct, the combination of: wall means defining a relatively flexiblebag having an opening therein for receiving the product; said productproviding support for the bag against inward collapse and causing asegment of the bag to assume a predetermined cross-sectionalconfiguration; said product terminating short of the opening in the bagso that a region of the bag projects beyond the end of the product witha sufficient length to provide for a twisting of this region to a closedposition; a collar attached to said region of the flexible bag adjacentthe opening in the bag, said collar having an opening therein in generalregistry with the opening in said bag; and said collar being turnable totwist said region of the bag to close said opening in said bag with atleast a double layer of the wall means, said collar fitting over atleast a section of said bag and being retainable thereby, said collarhaving a force fit on the bag, with the product in the bag, to retainthe region of the bag in the twisted condition by friction.
 11. Acombination as defined in claim 10 wherein said collar extends along thebag at the positions where the product is retained in the bag.
 12. Acombination as defined in claim 10 including bonding means for bondingsaid collar to said bag adjacent the open end of the bag.